My M4-Based SBR Build: On Hold Indefinitely

A couple of people have been following and asking about the status of my M4 Rifle build, hence I have decided to give this update. As of this writing, I have put my M4 Rifle build on indefinite hold, mainly because of problems acquiring the two most critical parts of the rifle: The bare Lower Receiver, and the Barrel.

I was set to get these two items from Twin Pines, as they were offering the cheapest price for them that I know of (brand new, anyway). Their casted, bare Lower Receiver costs only Php 15,000 (approximately Usd 365), while their 7.5" barrel made by Dassan of South Korea costs only Php 9,000 (approximately Usd 220).

Initially, they told me that to get these two items, I would only need licensing requirements for a High Powered Rifle (HPR), plus licensing fee of Php 7,500 (approximately Usd 180). So a couple of months ago, I prepared the requirements (National Bureau of Investigation Clearance, which I fortunately had one ready at that time, Proof of Employment as Overseas Filipino Worker, etc.), and the funds, and proceeded to get the items from them.

My M4-Based SBR Build: Sighting System

The third assembly or system I have completed on my M4-Based SBR build is the sighting system. Rifles will be largely useless without a sighting system, and I have chosen to use an Optic sight for my main sighting system, and Iron Sights as back up. 

Total price was at Php 12,154 (approximately Usd 289), which I think is just about the same in the US, based on the prices of similar items that I have looked at in the internet being sold there.

‘Parts Breakdown and Details'
Here is a breakdown of the parts of the system, and posted alongside each are the prices and where I bought them (note that all the prices included Shipping Costs wherever they apply. If the parts came with multiple shipments, I just divided the Shipping Costs with the number of items that arrived):
- Burris Fast Fire 2 Reflex Sight, P 6,000 (Online, Philippine Pistol Forum)
- Picatinny Protector for Fast Fire 2 Matte Black, P 4,202 (Online, Ebay.ph -from US location)
- 45 Degree Offset Back Up Iron Sights, P 1,952 (Online, Ebay.ph - from US location)

My M4-Based SBR Build: Upper Receiver Assembly

I have completed the second assembly for my M4-Based SBR build, and it is the Upper Receiver Assembly. Total price was at Php 22,466 (approximately Usd 535). Again, by US standards, it is shockingly expensive, as it is almost the price of some basic M4 Rifles I have seen on US websites. 

But that is life here in the Philippines, where owning firearms is not a right but a privillege, meaning only those who can afford can legally get one.

‘Parts Breakdown and Details'
Here is a breakdown of the parts of the assembly, and posted alongside each are the prices and where I bought them (note that all the prices included Shipping Costs wherever they apply. If the parts came with multiple shipments, I just divided the Shipping Costs with the number of items that arrived):
- Elisco Bolt Carrier Group (BCG), Php 6,800 (Online, Philippine Pistol Forum)
- Rock Island Armory M16 Upper Receiver, Php 12,000 (Twin Pines MCS)
- Ejection Port Cover Assembly, Php 1,100 (Final Option SM Megamall Gun Show)
- Forward Assist Assembly with Round Handle and Roll Pin, Php 916 (Online, Ebay.ph from US location)
- Charging Handle Assembly with Tactical Latch 1, Php 1,650 (Online, Ebay.ph from US location)

My M4-Based SBR Build: Buttstock Assembly

I have completed the first assembly for my M4-Based SBR build, and it is the Buttstock Assembly. Total price was at P6,547 (approximately USD 152). By US standards, it is shockingly expensive, as I have seen similar assemblies on Amazon sellling for only USD 50 in the US. I was initially thinking of getting a Magpul CTR Stock, but prices of such stocks in Philippine Gun Stores are insane, and I had problems finding an original one from a source that would ship to the Philippines.

The M4 Standard Stock showing the individual parts of the assembly


The M4 Standard Stock with all the individual parts assembled


Even if I could find one, the prices online, while much lower than the insane prices from the Gun Stores, still would've been much more expensive than the Standard M4 Stock. I also thought that in terms of looks, I think the Standard M4 Stock is better than the Magpul CTR as it is sleeker in appearance.

I could've bought these Standard M4 Stocks for much cheaper prices from some Chinese websites, but by the time I "discovered" them, I had already bought most of the items. Besides, I had excess parts from my Glock Machine Pistol build in form of the Tapco Rubber Pad and Buffer Tube, and didn't want them to go to waste, so I just decided to build around them instead.

My Planned M4-Based SBR Build

A couple of months ago, I got rid of my Norinco AK-47 because for the two years it was with me, I was unable to even test fire it in that time due to the change in the political system that caused a tightening of the Permit To Transport for High Powered Rifles (HPRs). However, things have loosened up lately, and it is now easier to get a PTT for HPRs, and this is one of the reasons why I have decided to do an M4 Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) build.

Would it have been more sensible for me to just wait a little longer rather than disposing my AK? Not really, because the lack of the PTT is just one of the reasons I got rid of it. I also found the AK-47 to be a little bit too heavy and front-heavy for comfort. I felt I still would've gotten rid of it in the end.

Lastly, there is one thing I could do with the M4-based SBR that I could never do with the AK-47, and that is to build the rifle from scratch, using my own chosen specifications and parts. There are very few firearms that one can build from the ground up, at least in this part of the world, and one of them is the M16/M4 rifle. This is because the M4/M16 rifle has a lot of users both in the military and civilian sector, which therefore means more demand for parts. This in turn drives manufacturers to make more parts, which become then more easily available in the market.

(Update - July 2012) Magpul Products' Availability in the Philippines

Three months after I posted my first blog about the availability of genuine Magpul Products in the Philippines, I was finally able to buy some of these products. Below is a picture of some of them:

From left to right: Magpul MIAD Grip, Magpul MOE Trigger Guard and Magpul BAD Lever


The parts seem genuine, the packaging is complete and top notch, and the parts themselves seem to be made of genuine high quality Polymer that Magpul is known for, instead of the lesser quality Polymer or even ABS Plastic materials that the copies are made of.

'ebay.ph'
I bought the above items from ebay.ph, from a seller in the US. The prices were great, just a couple of dollars above the typical retail listed prices for these items, way better than the ridiculous prices the local gun stores sell them for. The only problem with these parts is that the availability tends to be inconsistent at best, and this is mainly because the sellers are mostly individuals, not stores, and therefore could only have a few items at a time on their stocks.

My guess is that they buy these on sales, and turn around and sell them online. The available parts on sale is probably only limited, and their budget is also limited, and thus could only stock a few items at a time. So if you see one being sold, I suggest you grab one immediately as they may not be around for long.

M4-Based Short Barreled Rifle Barrel Selection Considerations

I am planning to assemble my first Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) based on the M4 Carbine platform of my own, and I have been trying to do a lot of reading about how to go about. In the course of my research, I have come across various interesting aspects that I would like to share with other newbies out there.

One of the more interesting facts I found out are the factors one has to consider when choosing the barrel length for an SBR. First, just a quick review of the term "Short Barreled Rifle": It is taken from the United States' Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) definition of any shoulder-fired, rifled firearm with a length of less than 16".

Also, note that the standard M16/M4 barrel comes in four general classifications. Below are a listing of them, with the maximum length for each classification noted down next to it:
- Rifle Length, 20"
- Mid-Length, 16"
- Carbine Length, 14.5"
- Pistol Length, 7.5"